The genius of the band Steel Panther is that its music walks such a fine line between parody and perfection of glam rock/heavy metal.

Yes, what its members said and did on stage at a sold-out show Friday at Allentown’s Crocodile Rock Café -- and, especially, its song lyrics and even titles-- are over-the-top raunchy. Way over the top. Much of it will have to be censored for this review.

But is that making fun of heavy metal or simply taking it to its highest purpose?

In reality, all of it was only a half-step away from real metal. And musically, the band – whose members have played in such legitimate bands as L.A. Guns and Rob Halford side project Fight – are far more musically talented than most heavy mental and glam rock bands.

From left: Bassist Lexxi Foxxx, Star and Satchel

Honestly, Steel Panther clearly has its tongue firmly in its cheek. But its twisted humor and musical ability is reminiscent of nothing less than – even though it’s sacrilege to say it – the metal equivalent of early Ramones. With perhaps a sprinkle of Pork Dukes.

That sick sense of humor that made early punk so good. And Steel Panther is that good. And laugh-out-loud funny.

In a 14-song, 90-minute show, the musical talent was on display from the opening “Supersonic Sex Machine,” with spiky guitar swirls and impressive playing by axman Satchel and yelping by vocalist Michael Starr. Also on display was the heavy metal head-banging and hair whipping, both by the band and the crowd.

Crowd member has a bite of scarf

But the humor was on display, too by the second song, “Tomorrow Night,” the topic of which is looking ahead a day to sexual conquests while, uh, self-satisfying tonight.

That was followed by the first of several often hilarious interludes during which Starr and others made mostly off-color comments. Among the night’s offerings:

Starr telling the technician to “turn up the [house] lights up so we can see the crowd,” then, in disgust, quickly asking for them to be turned down again, saying, “They looked better.”

Telling “hot chicks” standing outside Croc Rock’s floor cage to switch with fat, ugly girls down in front. “That would make the show much better for me,” Starr said.

Telling “kids” in the crowd, “They’re not going to tell you this in school, but drugs are cool.”

Noting that a large-breasted woman in front wouldn’t shut up. “She has big t—s, and because of that she thinks everybody wants to hear what she says. She’s right!”

Saying, before the song “Asian Hooker” that Allentown “has some awesome hookers” and that “this is the first time I had sex with a hooker,” both praising and complaining about the experience.

If such talk is offensive, it was also brilliant for its total lack of inhibition. Likewise are songs that, like “Asian Hooker,” rhyme “South Korea” with “gonorrhea.” Or, like “Community Property” boasts that while the singer’s heart belongs to a girl, other parts of him are for public use.

Or songs such as “Gold-Digging Whore,” “It Won’t Suck Itself,” “Weenie Ride,” “17 Girls in a Row” or “Let Me Cum In,” which really don’t need further explanations. “Just Like Tiger Woods” might need a word: It’s not about his golf prowess.

But it all worked because the band was so musically good. “Party All Day (F--- All Night)” (another song that needs no further explanation) was a Bon Jovi-esque rocker that was as good as anything that band ever did.

The crowd certainly didn’t mind. They sang loudly and lustily along to “Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)” – of all things, a really good power ballad, which also was the case with “Weenie Ride.” They even were solidly behind the band having two girls come up on stage to make out.

In fact, the biggest complaint was that, in the insanely packed Croc Rock, visibility beyond the front half of the club was a problem, as was the ambient noise and sometimes muddy mix that made you miss some great lyrics and some between-song comments.

There were some signals Steel Panther doesn’t take itself too seriously. In addition to the jokey stage speeches in which they riffed on Bret Michaels, Def Leppard and others, bassist Lexxi Foxxx hilariously continually groomed himself and checked his hair in a pink glitter hand-held mirror (often between notes of songs).

And when left onstage with drummer Stix Zadinia for the obligatory long solos, guitarist Satchel played not only snippets of Guns ‘N Roses’ “Sweet Child O Mine” and Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” but “Do Re Me” from “The Sound of Music.”

But the first encore song “Turn Out The Lights,” again showed off the band’s musical prowess. And the closer, “Death to All But Metal,” brought it all together. It’s musically great, and its lyrics raunchy and true – it profanely disses 50 Cent, Kanye West and others.

The crowd knew all the words, and sang along loudly. Whether it’s a joke or genius, they got it.

that place was way overbooked ill never see a show there agian.way over capacity getting greedy. I want my money back.

Posted By: dmc | Feb 18, 2012 5:41:25 PM

I was up front but I agree you couldn't see anything past middle of the room. Can't beat the price though $
& the show was spectacular from the front

Posted By: Midge | Feb 18, 2012 6:04:26 PM

John,

With all due respect, Crocodile Rock was an unsafe place last night, and was well beyond "insanely packed". It's nights like last night that make you wonder when we'll have another Rhode Island on our hands.

With regard to the show, Steel Panther was outstanding as always. But, come on man - it's Rob Halford. Show some respect to the Metal God.

Posted By: Porrohman | Feb 18, 2012 6:41:50 PM

Thanks for catching the typo on Rob Halford, Porrohman. Devil horns up to you.

Posted By: John J. Moser | Feb 18, 2012 11:01:47 PM

Hey man you left out the opening ACT john.
Wow i thought i was going to see some sleazy sounding band but i was amazed on how good they were.
Besides the lead singer's vocals coming in and out they were the best opening act ive seen in a long time.
advice to the singer dude you cannot move your mouth away from the mic your trying to hard with your guitar parts and you tend to look down at your guitar when your singing. Try to get more lyrics in your songs. Try using delay and reverb itll help a bit.
rhythm dude your fu.... awesome outstanding stage presence and control fans loved you . Bass Sick drums OMFG sick.

Posted By: Anthony | Feb 19, 2012 2:42:02 AM

Insanely crowded. Insanely worth it! If you're complaining about there not being enough room and being "safe", why are you at a rock concert? Just go home and listen to the album and watch YouTube. It's partly about you and the fellow fans!
Anyway, one of the best shows I've seen, both performance wise and entertainment wise. Any live performance I've seen, they're always on their A-game.

I hope they played all the good cover songs they used to not just their own stuff. Its fun to hear the classics also.

Posted By: anon | Feb 21, 2012 9:32:21 PM

Hey...öhm Censoring the lyrics wont be so cool, cause you will here this..Asian beep, beep little beeeeeeeep. Really...that sucks...i Playd the Songs to a view of of my Friends and we had lots of fun...so i think they are agreeing with me, that the Lyrics should not be censored. And yeah my name is really Starr...lol.

Keep Rocking Guys \m/-_-\m/

Posted By: Starr Reney | Feb 22, 2012 5:50:23 AM

The place was way over crowded but was totally worth it. Just one thing to say to Steel Panther, get a better opening band! The drum solo was the best part of their set. Their instruments where turned up too high and their amps too low. Its sound quality 101...

Posted By: Bob | Feb 22, 2012 11:26:50 PM

STEEL PANTHER YOU GUYS KICK ASSSSSSSSSSSS I LOVE THAT 80S METAL LOOK,AND YOUR YOUR STYLE I HOPE YOU GET BOOKED TO PLAY IN COLUMBUS OHIO SOON AND DAYTON OHIO TOO.METAL HEADS IN OHIO ARE WAITING..........

Posted By: J .Mathis | Feb 24, 2012 9:56:29 AM

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JOHN J. MOSER has been around long enough to have seen the original Ramones in a small club in New Jersey, U2 from the fourth row of a theater and Bob Dylan's born-again tours. But he also has the number for All-American Rejects' Nick Wheeler on his cell phone, wrote the first story ever done on Jack's Mannequin and hung out in Wiz Khalifa's hotel room.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

JODI DUCKETT: As The Morning Call's assistant features editor responsible for entertainment, she spends a lot of time surveying the music landscape and sizing up the Valley's festivals and club scene. She's no expert, but enjoys it all — especially artists who resonated in her younger years, such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Tracy Chapman, Santana and Joni Mitchell.

KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS enjoys all types of music, from roots rock and folk to classical and opera. Music has been a constant backdrop to her life since she first sat on the steps listening to her mother’s Broadway LPs when she was 2. Since becoming a mother herself, she has become well-versed on the growing genre of kindie rock and, with her son in tow, can boast she has seen a majority of the current kid’s performers from Dan Zanes to They Might Be Giants.

STEPHANIE SIGAFOOS: A Jersey native raised in Northeast PA, she was reared in a house littered with 8-tracks, 45s and cassette tapes of The Beatles, Elvis, Meatloaf and Billy Joel. She also grew up on the sounds of Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw and can be found traversing the countryside in search of the sounds of a steel guitar. A fan of today's 'new country,' she digs mainstream/country-pop crossovers like Lady Antebellum and Sugarland and other artists that illustrate the genre's diversity.